Simultaneous multiple side punching apparatus

ABSTRACT

In this apparatus a plurality of angularly spaced punch assemblies are disposed about a tubular blank-holding means, each punch assembly including: a ram, a ram guide and at least one punch means interconnected with the radially inner end of each ram. An annular member is disposed about all the assemblies and adapted to oscillate in a plane at right angles to the plane of motion of the rams and punch means. Individual cam means are connected to the annular member and each cam has a cam-face disposed angularly with respect to the plane of oscillation of the annular member. Each cam-face is in sliding, interlocked engagement with a ram-face which is disposed at an angle complementary to the angle of said cam-faces. By this arrangement, force from the plane of oscillation of the annular member is converted to force in the plane of movement of the rams and punch means.

United States Patent 91 Leska [54] SIMULTANEOUS MULTIPLE SIDE PUNCHINGAPPARATUS [75] Inventor: Road, Sandgate, Vt. 05201 [22] Filed: Aug. 6,1970 [21] Appl. No.: 61,650

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1931 Booth ..83/6l8X5/1967 Lambro ..83/627X Primary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz AssistantExgrninerheon Gilden A tt0rney- David R. Thornton Joseph P. Leska, WestSandgate 51 Jan. 9, 1973 [57 ABSTRACT ln this apparatus a plurality ofangularly. spaced punch assemblies are disposed about a tubularblank-holding means, each punch assembly including: a ram, a ram guideand at least one punch means interconnected with the radially inner endof each ram. An annular member is disposed about all the assemblies andadapted to oscillate in a plane at right angles to the plane'of inotionof the rams and punch means. Individual cam means are connected to theannular member and each cam has a cam-face disposed angularly withrespect to the plane of oscillation of the annular member. Each cam-faceis in sliding, interlocked engagement with a ram-face which is disposedat an angle complementary to the angle of said cam-faces. By thisarrangement, force from the plane of oscillation of the annular memberis converted to force in the plane of movement of the rams and punchmeans.

25 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH 91m 3.709.082

INVENTQR ATTORNEYS SIMULTANEOUS MULTIPLE SIDE PUNCIIING APPARATUSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is concerned with a sidepunching apparatus and more particularly with a simultaneous multipleside punching apparatus.

While there are many prior art side punching machines, each appear tohave at least one serious drawback or disadvantage. In one, forinstance, the punch actuating mechanism requires careful alignment andfrequent maintenance of the bearing surfaces to assure properfunctioning. In another, the use of a multiplicity of smallcomparatively fragile parts results in unreliable operation. Inaddition, many are actuated by an overhead power source which blocksaccess to the workpiece region of the apparatus. Thus, there is a greatneed for a side punching apparatus not having any of the foregoingdisadvantages.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to present a sidepunching apparatus so constructed and designed to permit the operator tohave unimpeded access to the workpiece region.

Another object is to present a side punching apparatus having a positivepunch and positive punchreturn action.

Yet another object is to present a side punch apparatus having maximumversatility regarding set up, adjustment and operation.

These and other objects will become apparent upon consideration of thefollowing specification taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus of the invention with part of theannular member broken away;

FIG. 2 is a side view in section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective of a punch assembly and cammeans employed in the apparatus of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to asimultaneous multiple side punching apparatus which includes (a) aframe, (b) a tubular-blank supporting die set on said frame, (c)angularly spaced punch assemblies slideably disposed about said die set,(d) an annular member supported on said frame about said assemblies, (e)means for oscillating said annular member in a plane at least generallyat right angles to the motion of said punch means and rams, and (f) cammeans inter-connecting said annular member and the rams. Each cam meansincludes a cam-face disposed angularly with respect to the plane ofoscillation of said annular member, and in sliding, keyed engagementwith said ram at the ram-face end opposite to the punch meansinterconnection end such that on oscillation of the annular member, therams are drivenly connected for movement inwardly and outwardly in aplane at least generally at right angles to the plane of oscillation ofsaid annular member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of thedrawing, the'apparatus includes a frame having a plane surface plate 12supported by a plurality of legs 14. Supported by said frame, in thecenter thereof, is a three piece die set 16 which includes a centrallylocated tubular blank supporting die post 17 for supporting a workpieceor blank (not shown) encompassed by a two piece outer die portion havinga punch guide member or guide bushing retainer ring 19 removably affixedby any conventional means such as bolts (not shown) to a base portion21. Member 19 guides the punches and can be removed from base 21 forpunch servicing and interchangeability. It should be understood,however, that a conventional die set for tubular blanks will also besuitable for use herein. Surrounding die set 16 are a plurality ofangularly spaced punch assemblies 18. Each punch assembly 18 comprises apunch 20 having a punch-head 22, a ram 26, adjustable punch-headretaining plates 24, and ram guide 28.

In FIG. 3, the punch assembly is illustrated in greater detail andexploded for clarity. Punch 20 is held in the front face 30 of ram 26 byits punch-head 22 which is positioned in slot 32 and secured bylaterally adjustable plates 24 which include elliptical bolt holespermitting lateral adjustment to effect firm holding of punch 20 andalso accomodation of different size punches. The slot 32 extendsvertically along the full length of front face 30 and is several timeslonger than the punch diameter to permit various vertical locations ofthe punch and to simultaneously accomodate a plurality of punches ineach ram. A slot 34 extends along each side of ram 26 paralled to itsbase 36, and is adapted to receive a guide-plate 38 of the U-shaped ramguide 28. The ram guide 28 includes a base 41 with upturned sides 40which are closely fitted to ram 26 to align it within the upturnedsides. Guide plates 38 are affixed to the upturned sides 40 andslideably retain the rams therein. Base 41 of guide 28 includes adepending member. or extention 42 on the bottom thereof, which isadapted to extend into annular T-slot 44 of ring plate 45 as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, and thereby radially align guides 28 and punch assemblies18 on surface 12. Threaded lug members 46 are adapted to fit within T-slot 44 and extend into guide 28 to draw it against ring plate 45 andsecure it thereto. T slot 44 is provided in a flat ring 45 which issecured to surface 12 by conventional means, e.g., bolts, (not shown).T-lugs 46 are placed in ring 45 through aligned openings in its lowersurface and plate 12.

Ram 26 has a rear face 48, inclined to its base 36, which includes aT-slot 50 extended throughout its length. T-slot 50 is designed toreceive an extended T- portion 52 of cam 54. The T-face of cam 54 isinclined to its rear face at an angle complementary'to the angle ofinclination of cam face 48. Preferably rear face 48 is machined at anangle about 15 degrees from a line normal to its base 36. In any event,the angle chosen should be that which will efficiently convert force ina vertical direction to force in a horizontal direction, and it shouldbe understood that although the terms vertical and horizontal areemployed with respect to the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus couldbe employed at various angles; for example, with plate 12 verticallymounted. Hence, broadly the cam angle is chosen to provide an efficientconversion of force lateral or perpendicular to the direction of travelof cam 54.

Cams 54 have arcuate slots 56 and 58 on thetop and bottom thereof, whichare adapted to receive extensions 60 and 62 of annular member 64.Annular member 64 comprises a ring of two parts. One part 66, isJ-shaped in cross section having a short upturned portion 62. The otherpart 68 is a cap plate including a short downturned extention 60, and isadapted to be affixed, e.g., by bolts, to part 66 so that in combinationthey are C-shaped in cross section. Extended lips 60 and 62 arearcuately curved and closely fitted to cam slots 56 and 58. To provide amore positive interlocking of the cam and the annular member whilepermitting angular positioning of the cam, its back face 60 is closelyfitted to and arcuately curved to conform to the inner curvature ofannular member 64.

Annular member 64 is mounted over plate 12 on guide pins 72, which passthrough plate 12 and are atfixed below it to drive member 74. Drivemember 74 is connected via coupling member 76 to a power means notshown.

In setting up the apparatus, a suitable die set 16 is selected, e.g.,one adapted to permit the piercing of three circular holes at threespaced points around a tubular blank. The die set 16 may comprise threeessential parts, a central die post member 17 having three holes toreceive the punches and the punched-out metal from the work piece, and apunch retainer-punch guide member 19 which is adapted to surround diepost 17 in spaced relationship. Punchguide member 19 is designed to besecured to punch guide base 21, mounted in the center of surface 12.Adjustable plates 24 are affixed to the front faces of the rams 26, withsuch a spacing that the heads of the punches may be later slid intoslots 32 of the rams such that during outward motion of the ram, theedges of plates 24 will act to withdraw the punches from die post 17 andthe work piece. At this point in setting up, the rams are positionedradially opposite the holes of the die post in ram guides 28.

Part 66 of annular member 64 is then positioned around rams 26. The T 52of cams 54 are inserted into T-slots 50 of the rear faces 48 of rams 26,and are slid downwardly so that their arcuate slots 58 receive extention62 of part 66. Then cap plate 68 is inserted over cams 54 so thatextention 60 is received by arcuate slots 56. The cap plate is thensecured to part 66. At this time punch retainer-punch guide 19,containing the punches, is placed in position so that each punch headslides into slots 32 of the rams 26. The rams 26 and cams 54 are made ofequal length, such that when punches of equal length are employed, theywill penetrate equal distances into die set 16, which is centered withinring 64.

Annular member 64 is operated in an upward and downward motion by aconventional motor and flywheel combination (not shown). A dog ofconventional design on the flywheel is adapted to engage a crank shaft,also not shown, which is attached to coupling 76 by an adjustablelinkage; for example, a conventional Pitman linkage, which permitsadjustment of the ram stroke with respect to the table surface.

The linkage is adjusted so that on the downstroke, cam 54 slides againstram 26 forcing it in a plane at right angles to the direction of motionof cam 54. The linkage adjustment is refined until the stroke will causethe punches to pierce through the work piece and Advantageously, cams54, although aligned radially with respect to annular member 64, areadapted to be positioned at any point within its confines. Similarly,ram guides 28, which radially align the rams 26, can likewise bepositioned at any selected degree within the confines of annular member64. Consequently, punches 20 may be spaced at any location in thehorizontal plane around die set 16.

The die set 16 is the master which guides punches 20. Hence, earns 54and their coupled slide rams 26, may be quickly aligned to accomodate awide variety of side piercing designs. In addition, the T-slot 32 infront face 30, permits the punches to be fixed in different horizontalplanes. Moreover, a plurality of punches may be used by providing morethan one punch in any particular slide ram. Furthermore, slot 32 notonly permits quick punch replacement and vertical positioning, but alsoallows the use of irregularly shaped punch heads. That is,fornon-symmetrical or non-cylindrical punches, e.g. square, the punchheads may be machined to closely fit precision slot 32 so as to controlrotation of the punch.

Preferably, slot 32 of rams 26 is machined to a precision width suchthat the punches may be designed to closely fit the slot. Flats may beground on each side of the punch heads so as to control or limit punchrotation during operating; for example, rectangular piercings or thelike can be made.

Advantageously, after punch wear, the punch guide retainer ring 19 canbe removed from its base 21, with punches 20 as a unit. The punches arethen machined to equal lengths and replaced by reversing the indicatedremoval steps. Then adjustment of coupling 76 is again made to draw ring64 closer to table 10 thereby driving rams 26 a further distance towardsdie set 16 in accordance with the new shorter length of punches 20.

To accommodate a different workpiece, the punches are removed asindicated, and die post 17 and retainer 19, replaced with membersdesigned for a different workpiece. In some cases, the die set base 21is also removed. Ram guides 28 are then released and angularly moved toaccomodate the new die set. The punches are then mounted, the ringreassembled, and the stroke adjusted in the manner described above.

Annular member 64, with its interlocked cams 54, provide a strong ruggedassembly, providing a low silhouette unit having simple, rapid, angularadjustment. Although ring 64 and cams 54 could be made in a single unit,that is, the ring would include a single annular cam, along its innerdiameter, the preferred cam following action of the cam T would be lost.Hence, some adjustable means for appropriately locking each ram to theannular cam would be required, or a less desirable spring return of therams would be necessitated.

Consequently, rams 26 permit vertical adjustment of thepunches, ramguides 28 control angularposition of the rams 26, while cams 54 areintercoupled to rams 26 in an angularly slideable manner, but verticallysecured in ring 64. This provides a simplified, extremely rugged, highlyreliable punch apparatus, designed for minimum maintenance and adaptedfor quick change-over to accomodate a variety of punching operations.Moreover, the large masses of ring 64 and cam 54 provide an additionalextremely large force during the punch stroke so as to provide a rapidhigh impact punch stroke with power sources of limited force or speed.

In operation of the apparatus of the invention, annular member 64 isvertically oscillated to drive cams 54 in the vertical plane. As annularmember 64 is lowered, rams 26 are driven inward (by cams 54) to forcepunches 20 through the tubular workpiece (not shown) which is nested indie set 16. During the return stroke, as annular member 64 is raised,the rams, which are coupled to earns 54, are pulled back withdrawingpunches 20 from the work.

While the overall excursion of annular member 64 is fixed by thecrankshaft and drive, its center of oscillation (with respect to tableplate 12) is easily controlled by the length of linkage between coupling76 and the crankshaft. Since the limits of the vertical oscillationcontrol the horizontal oscillation of punches 20, its extremes are setby this adjustment means. Consequently, after wear of the punches, theymay be equally dressed, and the linkage adjusted, to lower ring 64 anddrive all punches inwardly the proper distance.

The unit is adaptable to conventional automatic feeding and removal ofthe workpieces, for example, a knock-out solenoid (not shown) positionedbeneath the table may be operated from a microswitch (not shown) whichis triggered by the return (down) stroke of plate 74 or member 64 or thelike.

Many variations are possible, of course. For example, ram guides 28 maybe secured in its annular key slot 44 by a variety of conventionalarrangements; for example, they may be bolted from their top surface orthe like. It should also be understood that guide plates 38 which ridein channels 34 of the rams may be per manently affixed parts of guides28, however, this could provide a more expensive construction of guides28, and require that rams 26 be slid out of the guides for removal, etc.

The present invention has been described in connection with certainphysical embodiments and certain examples; however, it is appreciatedthat various changes may be made in these embodiments and exampleswithout departing from the intended spirit and scope of the presentinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Simultaneous multiple side punching apparatus for tubular blankscomprising:

a. a frame having an exterior surface,

b. a tubular blank supporting die set means on said surface forsupporting said blank substantially perpendicular thereto,

c. angularly spaced punch assemblies disposed about said blanksupporting means, each punch assembly comprising:

1. radially acting punch means adjacent said blank supporting means,

2. a ram disposed radially with respect to said blank supporting meansand interconnected at one end with said punch means, and

3. a ram guide secured to said surface for supporting and guiding saidram for reciprocating movement in a radial direction and in a planegenerally parallel to said surface,

. an annular member surrounding said assemblies in substantiallyconcentric arrangement to said blank supporting and die set means,

. means for oscillating said annular member along an axis at leastgenerally perpendicular to said surface, said oscillating meansincluding means extending from beneath said surface into engagement withsaid annular member for oscillatably supporting it in a plane parallelto and just above said surface; and

f. individual cam means each interconnecting said annular member andsaid rams, said cam means each having a cam-face disposed angularly withrespect to the plane of oscillation of said annular member,-saidcam-face being in cam following engagement with the ram-face locatedopposite said one end and said ram-face being disposed at an anglecomplementary to the angle of said camface, said apparatus constructedand arranged so that on oscillation of said annular member, said ramsare drivenly connected for movement inwardly and outwardly in a plane atleast generally at right angles to the plane of oscillation of saidannular member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one end of said ram iselongated in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axisof said blank supporting die set means and'includes a channel disposedin substantially parallel relation to said longitudinal axis and adaptedto receive the head of said punch means, and said ram includes means forretaining said punch heads within said channel so as to withdraw saidpunch means upon raising of said annular member, said retaining meansincludes a pair of plates displaceably secured to said one end of saidram and configured for lateral displacement thereto, said plates partlyoverlying said channel of said one end so as to releasably retain saidpunch head in the T-slot formed thereby.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ram-guide is a substantiallyU-shaped member having a base and upturned sides providing an elongatedchannel which slidably engages said ram, and said ram-guide having adownwardly depending member for engaging said frame to radially alignsaid elongated channel of said guide.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said depending member is an annularsegment disposed transverse to said channel of said ram-guide, and saidframe includes an annular slot in the upper surface thereof, saidannular slot being closely fitted to said depending member so as toradially align said guide.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said die set means includes a diepost having a guide bushing retainer ring and a retainer base disposedtherearound, said die post and said retainer base affixed to said framesurface, and said guide bushing retainer ring located on said base andremovably affixed thereto so as to facilitate removal of said retainerring for dressing and replacement of said punches.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ram-guide is a substantiallyU-shaped member providing an elongated channel for guiding said ram.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said rams include side channelsdisposed in a plane parallel to the plane of said rams, and said ramguides include guide plates releasably affixed to the upturned sides ofsaid U-shaped guide, said guide plates being extended within said r-amchannels so as to releasably retain said ram within said guides.

8. A side punching apparatus for tubular blanks comprising:

a. a frame;

b. tubular blank supporting die set means on said frame c. at least onepunch assembly disposed radially with respect to said blank supportingmeans, said punch assembly comprising:

1. radially acting punch means having an inner end configured forcooperative punching engagement with said blank supporting means;

. a radially acting ram disposed outwardly with respect to said punchmeans, said ram having an inner end in driving engagement with the outerend of said punch means, and

3. a ram guide having a guide channel configured for supporting andguiding said ram for reciprocating movement along the axis of said guidechannel;

d. frame-guide coupling means for facilitating dis placement of saidguide around at least a portion of the circumference of said blanksupporting means, for maintaining said guide with its guide channelsubstantially radially aligned with said blank supporting means duringsaid displacement and for releasably securing said guide to said frameso as to facilitate the angular positioning of said guide with respectto said blank supporting means;

. annular driving means disposed about said blank supporting means andsaid guides, said member configured for oscillatable movement in adirection generally parallel to the axis of said blank supporting dieset means;

f. a cam member configured for engagement with the outer end of said ramfor inward displacement thereof so as to drive said punch means intosaid punching engagement responsive to movement of said cam in a givendirection generally parallel to the axis of said blank supporting means;and

. means for coupling said cam to said driving means so as to move saidcam in said direction responsive to oscillation of said driving means.

9. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said frame-guide coupling meansincludes means for maintaining said guide substantially concentric withsaid blank supporting means during said slideable displacement thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said frameguide coupling meansincludes an annular slot and key means configured for aligning saidguide while permitting said displacement for said angular positioning.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said frame includes a substantiallyplanar surface having said blank supporting means and said punchassembly mounted thereon, said frame-guide coupling means includes anannular slot disposed in said surface and extending circumferentiallyaround said blank supporting means and an annular segment memberdepending from said guide member traversely of saidguide channel andclosely fitted to said slot so as to radially align said guide channelwhile permitting slideable displacement of said guide to any angularposition around said blank supporting means.

12. The apparatus of 9 wherein said annular member is curved about anaxis generally concentric with the axis of said blank supporting means,said means for coupling said cam to said annular member includes meansfor substantially precluding movement of said cam transverse to thecurved length of said annular member and for permitting slideabledisplacement of said cam along the curved length of said member whilemaintaining substantially radial alignment of said cam with respect toboth said member and said blank supporting means such that said cam maybe positioned angularly with respect to said blank supporting means inaccordance with the angular position of said punch assembly.

13. Side punching apparatus for tubular blanks comprising:

a. a frame; g

b. tubular blank supporting die set means on said frame; at least onepunch assembly disposed radially with respect to said die set means,said punch assembly comprising:

l. radially acting punch positioned having its inner end configured forcooperative engagement with said blank supporting means, I

2. a radially acting ram disposed outwardly with respect to said punchmeans, said ram having its inner end in driving engagement with theouter end of said punch means, and

3. a ram guide having a guide channel configured for supporting andguiding said ram for reciprocating movement along the axis of said guidechannel;

.' means for securing said guide on said frame with its guide channel insubstantially radial alignment with said blank supporting means so as toposition said ram for movement in a radial direction.

. cam means including a cam member configured for engagement with saidram for at least inward displacement thereof so as to drive said punchmeans into said punching engagement responsive to movement of said cammeans in a given direction generally parallel to the axis of said blanksupporting means;

f. driving means configured for oscillatable movement in a directiongenerally parallel to the axis of said blank supporting means, saiddriving means including at least an annular segment member disposedoutwardly of said ram, said member being curved about an axis generallyconcentric with the axis of said blank supporting means; and

. means for coupling said cam means to said annular member, saidcoupling means including means for substantially precluding movement ofsaid cam means transverse to the curved length of said member whilepermitting slideable displacement of said cam means along the lengththereof so as to provide oscillation of said cam means therewith and tofacilitate positioning of said cam means around said blank supportingmeans for cooperation with said punch assembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for coupling said cammeans to said annular segment member additionally includes means forradially aligning said cam means while permitting said displacementalong said annular member.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 additionally including means for couplingsaid cam means to said ram for permitting relative displacement of saidcam means with respect to said ram in the said given direction ofoscillation of said driving means while precluding substantialdisplacement of said cam means laterally with respect to the directionof displacement of said ram such that said ram tends to radially alignsaid cam means therewith in accordance with radial alignment of saidguide means.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said driving member is an annularring disposed in the plane of said ram and concentric with said blanksupporting means, said cam means extends radially inwardly from saidring into engagement with said ram, and said cam means are coupled tosaid ring by a slot and key arrangement for precluding movementtransverse thereto and for maintaining said cam means radially withrespect to said ring.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said frame includes a planarsurface, said die set is centrally located on said surface and adaptedto retain a tubular blank substantially perpendicular thereto, saidpunch assemblies are radially disposed around said die set with saidrams adapted for slideable motion in a plane parallel to said surface,and said annular member is mounted over said surface and disposed in asecond plane close to and substantially parallel to the plane of saidrams, said cam means are secured to the inner diameter of said annularmember, said cam means include a ram engaging surface inclined to theplane of said rams for driving said rams inwardly and sliding,interlocked, cam follower means for drawing said rams outwardly duringoscillation of said annular member in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of said rams.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said annular member includes awall portion disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to theplane of said rams and a top and bottom portion extending inwardly inplanes parallel to the plane of said rams providing a U- shaped innerdiameter of said annular member, and said cam means includes a cammember disposed within said U-shaped diameter and extending inwardlytherefrom, and the innermost face of said cam member is inclined at anacute angle to the plane of said wall portion of said annular member.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said ram is an elongated memberhaving said one end substantially perpendicular to its longitudinalaxis'and its face opposite to said one end disposed at an anglecomplementary to said angle of said cam member, said opposite faceincludes a T-shaped slot, and said cam member includes a T-shapedportion fitted to said T-shaped slot of said ram andadapted to slidetherein.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said annular member is affixed toa plurality of posts extending through said planar surface and saidposts are adjustable connected to said oscillating means beneath saidplanar member.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said cam members include a channeldisposed in the upper and lower surfaces parallel to said wall of saidannular member, and said top and bottom portions of said annular membersinclude depending members extended within said channels of said cams andclosely fitted thereto so as to provide a C-shaped annular member whichaligns said cam members radially with respect thereto. 7

22. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the rear face of said cam memberopposite to its inclined face is arcuately curved to conform to theinner curvature of said annular member.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said upper portion of said annularmember is releasably secured to said wall portion for permitting removalof said cam means.

24. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said ram guide is a substantiallyU-shaped member mounted upright on said surface, said rams include sidechannels disposedin a plane parallel to the plane displacement of saidrams, and said ram guides include a guide plate releasably affixed tothe upturned sides of said guide and extending with said ram channels soas to releasably retain said rams in said guide and to facilitateremoval thereof for replacement of said punches.

25. The apparatus of claim 18 including a ring mounted on said planarsurface, said ring having an annular T-shaped slot therein disposedaround said die set, said guides include depending members extendedwithin said T-shaped slot, and T-lugs extend from said

1. Simultaneous multiple side punching apparatus for tubular blankscomprising: a. a frame having an exterior surface, b. a tubular blanksupporting die set means on said surface for supporting said blanksubstantially perpendicular thereto, c. angularly spaced punchassemblies disposed about said blank supporting means, each punchassembly comprising:
 1. radially acting punch means adjacent said blanksupporting means,
 2. a ram disposed radially with respect to said blanksupporting means and interconnected at one end with said punch means,and
 3. a ram guide secured to said surface for supporting and guidingsaid ram for reciprocating movement in a radial direction and in a planegenerally parallel to said surface, d. an annular member surroundingsaid assemblies in substantially concentric arrangement to said blanksupporting and die set means, e. means for oscillating said annularmember along an axis at least generally perpendicular to said surface,said oscillating means including means extending from beneath saidsurface into engagement with said annular member for oscillatablysupporting it in a plane parallel to and just above said surface; and f.individual cam means each interconnecting said annular member and saidrams, said cam means each having a cam-face disposed angularly withrespect to the plane of oscillation of said annular member, saidcam-face being in cam following engagement with the ram-face locatedopposite said one end and said ramface being disposed at an anglecomplementary to the angle of said cam-face, said apparatus constructedand arranged so that on oscillation of said annular member, said ramsare drivenly connected for movement inwardly and outwardly in a plane atleast generally at right angles to the plane of oscillation of saidannular member.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one end of saidram is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said blank supporting die set means and includes achannel disposed in substantially parallel relation to said longitudinalaxis and adapted to receive the head of said punch means, and said ramincludes means for retaining said punch heads within said channel so asto withdraw said punch means upon raising of said annular member, saidretaining means includes a pair of plates displaceably secured to saidone end of said ram and configured for lateral displacement thereto,said plates partly overlying said channel of said one end so as toreleasably retain said punch head in the T-slot formed thereby.
 2. a ramdisposed radially with respect to said blank supporting means andinterconnected at one end with said punch means, and
 2. a radiallyacting ram disposed outwardly with respect to said punch means, said ramhaving its inner end in driving engagement with the outer end of saidpunch means, and
 2. a radially acting ram disposed outwardly withrespect to said punch means, said ram having an inner end in drivingengagement with the outer end of said punch means, and
 3. a ram guidehaving a guide channel configured for supporting and guiding said ramfor reciprocating movement along the axis of said guide channel; d.frame-guide coupling means for facilitating displacement of said guidearound at least a portion of the circumference of said blank supportingmeans, for maintaining said guide with its guide channel substantiallyradially aligned with said blank supporting means during saiddisplacement and for releasably securing said guide to said frame so asto facilitate the angular positioning of said guide with respect to saidblank supporting means; e. annular driving means disposed about saidblank supporting means and said guides, said member configured foroscillatable movement in a direction generally parallel to the axis ofsaid blank supporting die set means; f. a cam member configured forengagement with the outer end of said ram for inward displacementthereof so as to drive said punch means into said punching engagementresponsive to movement of said cam in a given direction generallyparallel to the axis of said blank supporting means; and g. means forcoupling said cam to said driving means so as to move said cam in saiddirection responsive to oscillation of said driving means.
 3. a ramguide having a guide channel configured for supporting and guiding saidram for reciprocating movement along the axis of said guide channel; d.means for securing said guide on said frame with its guide channel insubstantially radial alignment with said blank supporting means so as toposition said ram for movement in a radial direction. e. cam meansincluding a cam member configured for engagement with said ram for atleast inward displacement thereof so as to drive said punch means intosaid punching engagement responsive to movement of said cam means in agiven direction generally parallel to the axis of said blank supportingmeans; f. driving means configured for oscillatable movement in adirection generally parallel to the axis of said blank supporting means,said driving means including at least an annular segment member disposedoutwardly of said ram, said member being curved about an axis generallyconcentric with the axis of said blank supporting means; and g. meansfor coupling said cam means to said annular member, said coupling meansincluding means for substantially precluding movement of said cam meanstransverse to the curved length of said member while permittingslideable displacement of said cam means along the length thereof so asto provide oscillation of said cam means therewith and to facilitatepositioning of said cam means around said blank supporting means forcooperation with said punch assembly.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said ram-guide is a substantially U-shaped member having a baseand upturned sides providing an elongated channel which slidably engagessaid ram, and said ram-guide having a downwardly depending member forengaging said frame to radially align said elongated channel of saidguide.
 3. a ram guide secured to said surface for supporting and guidingsaid ram for reciprocating movement in a radial direction and in a planegenerally parallel to said surface, d. an annular member surroundingsaid assemblies in substantially concentric arrangement to said blanksupporting and die set means, e. means for oscillating said annularmember along an axis at least generally perpendicular to said surface,said oscillating means including means extending from beneath saidsurface into engagement with said annular member for oscillatablysupporting it in a plane parallel to and just above said surface; and f.individual cam means each interconnecting said annular member and saidrams, said cam means each having a cam-face disposed angularly withrespect to the plane of oscillation of said annular member, saidcam-face being in cam following engagement with the ram-face locatedopposite said one end and said ram-face being disposed at an anglecomplementary to the angle of said cam-face, said apparatus constructedand arranged so that on oscillation of said annular member, said ramsare drivenly connected for movement inwardly and outwardly in a plane atleast generally at right angles to the plane of oscillation of saidannular member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said Dependingmember is an annular segment disposed transverse to said channel of saidram-guide, and said frame includes an annular slot in the upper surfacethereof, said annular slot being closely fitted to said depending memberso as to radially align said guide.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid die set means includes a die post having a guide bushing retainerring and a retainer base disposed therearound, said die post and saidretainer base affixed to said frame surface, and said guide bushingretainer ring located on said base and removably affixed thereto so asto facilitate removal of said retainer ring for dressing and replacementof said punches.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ram-guide is asubstantially U-shaped member providing an elongated channel for guidingsaid ram.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said rams include sidechannels disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of said rams, andsaid ram guides include guide plates releasably affixed to the upturnedsides of said U-shaped guide, said guide plates being extended withinsaid ram channels so as to releasably retain said ram within saidguides.
 8. A side punching apparatus for tubular blanks comprising: a. aframe; b. tubular blank supporting die set means on said frame c. atleast one punch assembly disposed radially with respect to said blanksupporting means, said punch assembly comprising:
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 9 wherein said frame-guide coupling means includes means formaintaining said guide substantially concentric with said blanksupporting means during said slideable displacement thereof.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9 wherein said frame-guide coupling means includes anannular slot and key means configured for aligning said guide whilepermitting said displacement for said angular positioning.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 9 wherein said frame includes a substantially planarsurface having said blank supporting means and said punch assemblymounted thereon, said frame-guide coupling means includes an annularslot disposed in said surface and extending circumferentially aroundsaid blank supporting means and an annular segment member depending fromsaid guide member traversely of said guide channel and closely fitted tosaid slot so as to radially align said guide channel while permittingslideable displacement of said guide to any angular position around saidblank supporting means.
 12. The apparatus of 9 wherein said annularmember is curved about an axis generally concentric with the axis ofsaid blank supporting means, said means for coupling said cam to saidannular member includes means for substantially precluding movement ofsaid cam transverse to the curved length of said annular member and forpermitting slideable displacement of said cam along the curved length ofsaid member while maintaining substantially radial alignment of said camwith respect to both said member and said blank supporting means suchthat said cam may be positioned angularly with respect to said blanksupporting means in accordance with the angular position of said punchassembly.
 13. Side punching apparatus for tubular blanks comprising: a.a frame; b. tubular blank supporting die set means on said frame; c. atleast one punch assembly disposed radially with respect to said die setmeans, said punch assembly comprising:
 14. The apparatus of claim 14wherein said means for coupling said cam means to said annular segmentmember additionally includes means for radially aligning said cam meanswhile permitting said displacement along said annular member.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 14 additionally including means for coupling said cammeans to said ram for permitting relative displacement of said cam meanswith respect to said ram in the said given direction of oscillation ofsaid driving means while precluding substantial displacement of said cammeans laterally with respect to the direction of displacement of saidram such that said ram tends to radially align said cam means therewithin accordance with radial alignment of said guide means.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 14 wherein said driving member is an annular ringdisposed in the plane of said ram and concentric with said blanksupporting means, said cam means extends radially inwardly from saidring into engagement with said ram, and said cam means are coupled tosaid ring by a slot and key arrangement for precluding movementtransverse thereto and for maintaining said cam means radially withrespect to said ring.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said frameincludes a planar surface, said die set is centrally located on saidsurface and adapted to retain a tubular blank substantiallyperpendicular thereto, said punch assemblies are radially disposedaround said die set with said rams adapted for slideable motion in aplane parallel to said surface, and said annular member is mounted oversaid surface and disposed in a second plane close to and substantiallyparallel to the plane of said rams, said cam means are secured to theinner diameter of said annular member, said cam means include a ramengaging surface inclined to the plane of said rams for driving saidrams inwardly and sliding, interlocked cam follower means for drawingsaid rams outwardly during oscillation of said annular member in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the plane of said rams.
 18. The apparatusof claim 16 wherein said annular member includes a wall portion disposedin a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said rams and atop and bottom portion extending inwardly in planes parallel to theplane of said rams providing a U-shaped inner diameter of said annularmember, and said cam means includes a cam member disposed within saidU-shaped diameter and extending inwardly therefrom, and the innermostface of said cam member is inclined at an acute angle to the plane ofsaid wall portion of said annular member.
 19. The apparatus of claim 14wherein said ram is an elongated member having said one endsubstantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis and its faceopposite to said one end disposed at an angle complementary to saidangle of said cam member, said opposite face includes a T-shaped slot,and said cam member includes a T-shaped portion fitted to said T-shapedslot of said ram and adapted to slide therein.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 18 wherein said annular member is affixed to a plurality of postsextending through said planar surface and said posts are adjustableconnected to said oscillating means beneath said planar member.
 21. Theapparatus of claim 19 wherein said cam members include a channeldisposed in the upper and lower surfaces parallel to said wall of saidannular member, and said top and bottom portions of said annular membersinclude depending members extended within said channels of said cams andclosely fitted thereto so as to provide a C-shaped annular member whichaligns said cam members radially with respect thereto.
 22. The apparatusof claim 22 wherein the rear face of said cam member opposite to itsinclined face is arcuately curved to conform to the inner curvature ofsaid annular member.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said upperportion of said annular member is releasably secured to said wallportion for permitting removal of said cam means.
 24. The apparatus ofclaim 24 wherein said ram guide is a substantially U-shaped membermounted upright on said surface, said rams include side channelsdisposed in a plane parallel to the plane displacement of said rams, andsaid ram guides include a guide plate releasably affixed to the upturnedsides of said guide and extending with said ram channels so as toreleasably retain said rams in said guide and to facilitate removalthereof for replacement of said punches.
 25. The apparatus of claim 18including a ring mounted on said planar surface, said ring having anannular T-shaped slot therein disposed around said die set, said guidesinclude depending members extended within said T-shaped slot, and T-lugsextend from said T-shaped slot and secure said guides to said planarsurface.